Driver headlamp turning on and off while driving. Lamp will turn on if I switched control off and turned it on again, but will turn off again within 10 minutes. Replaced both lights bulbs, then passenger headlight started doing the same thing with in a month of replacement. I replaced bulb again in the passenger headlight and with in 5 days light started again doing same thing. Headlight turns on if I switch control on and off. Found similar complains about prius 2005 on line.
2005 Toyota Prius lights complaints
Page 5 of 13: complaints 101 to 130 of 346, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While driving at night I noticed that my headlights were dim. I later found that the left light had gone out. I found that turning the lights off and on again the light went on for a while. The problem persists and toyota says they can do nothing. I must pay for a new light $300 +.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota prius. The contact stated that the driver's side headlight intermittently failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
The right headlamp works intermittently and has been for some time and lately the left is joining in. I have asked about this numerous times over the past couple of years when in the dealership for other services. It isn't a problem any time I have been in their presence; but they noted it in my file. Likewise, as I cross my fingers yearly, they have both been working during inspection. Thought I was crazy until I see tons of complaints on the internet as well as info that you had an investigation but closed it saying this isn't a safety issue. Just want it to go on record with you as well because if something happens, you and toyota will be sued. This is obviously a problem with upwards of 2k people (that you know of) and see no safety issue in something as important as lighting? Cars do not pass inspection with inadequate lighting and require replacement; but, you see no validity in a lighting issue that the consumer is unable to solve by replacement of the lighting unit?? Just like the government, makes no sense!
My hid headlight turns off, it can be turned back on by toggling the light switch. I had previously replaced the bulb, however it cost over $400 to get it fixed. It is dangerous to drive like this, toyota does not seem to assume responsibility that there is a defect. There was a cash support but only for 2006 to 2009 models. There should be an investigation into this problem.
Last friday night both right and left headlights burned out within five minutes of one another. Thankfully I could limp home with the help of street lights. I discovered today at toyota dealership that the cost of two new hid osram xenarc d2r 35 w 66050 ($ 175/bulb) and labor ($ 113/hr) plus sales tax was $ 467.31. I checked the cost of the hid bulbs online. Amazon offers a pair of these bulbs for $ 159.99 plus free shipping. Toyota's genuine part mark up is an astounding 217% in this comparison. Further, the toyota parts/service said that they need to take off the bumper - unlike the owner's manual instructions from the side of the headlights - to replace the bulbs. Toyota headlights can be dangerous if they burn out simultaneously and replacement cost is ridiculous at the dealership!
Front passenger (right) side main headlamp goes out, it will relight when light switch is turned off, then back on.date of first occurrence is unknown. This happens when at idle or any speed. Sometimes the light will stay on for 30 minutes or more, but most of the time the light will go out every 4 minutes. I have to drive and look at the reflection of my car on the side of another car to see if my light is one or not. When I reset the light, people think I am flashing them to pull over. I have been pulled over for the light out and I was able to demonstrate to the peace officer that I can reset the light by turning it off and on, he told me to take care of it, yet there are no answers or a firm fix. Toyota should recall gen 2 prius as this is a defect.
My passenger headlight shuts off by itself after a few minutes. When I shut off the lights and turn them on again, they both stay lit for several more minutes or sometimes longer. We took it to the dealer, and they charged over $100 to replace the bulb and there has been no change. I noticed that there was a recall on the 2006-2009 models for a similar problem. I suspect this might extend to the 2005 model. At times both lights go out in an unpredictable manner. This does not seem safe to me. Thank you
Driving down the freeway and the headlights went out. I flipped the switch and they turned on. This now happens every time I drive and it requires numerous flipping on and off of the lights to make them come back on.
Driving down the freeway 70 MPH both headlights went out! Turned them off and then back on they did not work. Turned them off and back on once again and they worked. Both lights should not go out at once!
While driving my vehicle at night the right headlamp suddenly went out. I turned the headlight switch on and off and the headlamp came back on. Approximately 7-8 minutes later both headlamps went out. Once again I turned the headlamp switch off and on and both headlights came back on. This continued to happen every few minutes until I finally reached my destination. Since then it has continued to happen sporadically. I feel that this is a very serious safety issue that needs to be addressed. I purchased new bulbs thinking that this was the problem but discovered that the design of the vehicle does not give adequate access to the bulbs for changing. It appears that it must have to be done by the dealer. I feel that this is also something that needs attention.
Passenger side hid headlight goes out sometime after start up. If you switch the lights off then on again it runs for a period (approx 4 min) then goes out again. Replacing bulb has no effect. When searching for solutions appears to be a chronic problem among 2005/2006 prius.
Front passenger headlamp goes out by itself. Will come back on if headlamp switch is turned off and on. Does not occur with hitting a bump in the road or depending upon weather. Very unpredictable. Once driver side headlamp did the same. Regularly the passenger headlamp fails!! Also, rear passenger brake lamp works sometimes and doesn't work other times. Unpredictable.
One headlight goes out - this happens several times a week. Changing the bulbs only solves the problem for a few months. This is a common complaint in second generation prius models.
Starting over a year ago and occurring every time needed,the headlight on the passenger side sporadically goes out. It can happen zero to multiple times during a single use of the car, sometimes up to every minute and a half while driving. Turning the headlights off and back on again cause both headlights to come back on. As far as we know, this did not start happening until after a maintenance visit and was stopped by a state patrol officer. Conversations with other prius owners, replacing the headlight does not seem to resolve this issue. At +$350 to change the headlight at the dealer, I am hesitant to spend money on something that will not resolve the issue. While we have had no other troubles with this car and love the car, this recurring issue has caused us to hesitate driving the car at night.
Starting in approximately march and occurring daily through present day, one or both headlights sporadically go out. We started noticing this in march when driving at night. Our own tests indicate that it can happen when the car is at a complete standstill or at any speed. It can happen zero to multiple times during a single use of the car, sometimes up to every minute and a half while driving. Turning the headlights off and back on again cause both headlights to come back on. As far as we know, this did not start happening until this last march. We have had no other troubles with this car and love the car, aside from this issue. This has caused us to stop driving the car at night, which is extremely inconvenient.
Headlights go out while driving. Driver headlight went out while driving 55mph. Pulled over & noted driver headlight out. Turned car off & then restarted & both headlights went on. Drove a couple miles & noted headlight out & this time it was the passenger headlight that was out. This has happened a few times in the year @ 1/2. We also had a problem in the past with the headlights being aimed too low in front of the car causing trouble seeing. It turned out to be the auto aiming computer was malfunctioning & it was replaced by warranty. We also had to have the skid control brake computer ($2500.) replaced 12/06/2012 due to brake malfunctioning (brakes would hardly stop the car).
Both headlights turned off simultaneously. Turning the headlight switch off, and back on restored illumination. This happened twice within 45 minutes.
Left hid headlight on my prius keeps going off at random, sometimes it happens fast, sometimes it doesn't happen at all. By cycling the headlights on/off turn the light back on. This seems to happen to more than just my prius because I have personally seen many priuses with their passenger side (left) headlight out.
1. Driver's side hid-type headlight went out while driving at night. Went on & off intermittently for several days. Required a replacement headlight computer and bulb. Ridiculously expensive to get headlights functioning properly. 2. Headlight leveling system malfunctions & warning light goes on intermittently, generally during & right after rain storms. Ongoing problem since car had approximately 32,000 miles.
Both hid headlights went out at the same time. I can toggle the light switch off and on and one or both lights came back on. Then went out again within a few seconds to a minute, over and over. Makes no difference if car is not moving at all or going 70 MPH. I was able to drive the 15 miles home at night without incident. Went to dealer next day and they say all that is wrong is that the headlights are burned out. Estimate to replace both is $474.31. I do not believe that they would burn out at exactly the same time. And if they are burned out then why do they come back on and off. I have done research and found the class action settlement for 2006-2009 models. I also found that you have had hundreds of complaints about the 2005 model yet you have not considered this a safety matter. I disagree. Even if you don't help me, I want my complaint included in your database.
The drivers side headlight keeps going off and on. At first all I had to do was turn it off then on but now it is turning off and staying off.
I was driving home on the highway at night when both headlights shut off. The right headlight has been turning off periodically, but this is the first time both lights have gone out. By turning the lights off and then on, the headlights returned to working order. This is a persistent problem, which both toyota and the federal safety agency know about. Replacing the lightbulb appears to be only a very temporary, and costly, solution.
My car lights keeps going off while driving at night.
The passenger side hid headlight went out. The next time I used the car, the headlight was working again. Since the first occurrence, either headlight has gone out intermittently (I have not been aware that both have gone out at the same time). Each time, the headlights are found to be working again later. I don't know how often the problem is occurring. I don't do a lot of night driving, but I keep my lights on all the time. I suspect there are many daylight failures that go unnoticed.
My 2005 prius began to have problems with the driver's side headlight. When I first turn my lights on, the headlamp works, but after a few minutes of driving, it goes out. Switching to high beams doesn't make any difference, but if I turn off my lights and turn them right back on, the headlamp works for a short while. I have researched this on prius forums, and it is a very common problem. The dealer wants $2600 to fix it. I think it is a manufacturing defect and should be recalled and fixed at no charge.
When I started my 2005 toyota prius, I got a warning on the dashboard and the multi-function display that the automatic headlight leveling system had malfunctioned. This is a safety feature that corrects the aim of the headlights if you are driving with an unusually heavy load, so that your lights do not momentarily blind oncoming drivers. Unfortunately, when the sensor in the headlight leveling system fails, the headlights aim themselves to a default position that is unsafe; the headlights aim downwards, and illuminate the ground 20 feet in front of the car and no farther. It is not safe to drive in the dark faster than 20 miles an hour with the headlights like this. The problem begins with the sensor in the 2004 and 2005 model priuses, where a gasket fails and the interior parts of the sensor corrode and fail. Toyota knows about this problem and now offers improved replacement parts and has issued the technical service bulletin below. However, replacing this part at a dealer can cost upwards of $500, discouraging many owners from making the repair, leading to unsafe driving conditions for prius drivers and everyone else on the road. There is no manual override to make it safe for a driver to drive in the dark. It seems like poor engineering that toyota has implemented a safety device that, when it fails, creates a more unsafe condition than if the safety device were not there. Not to be overly dramatic, but it was a failed gasket and failed sensors that brought down the space shuttle. A repair suggested online involves springs from ballpoint pens, but this is ridiculous. A repair with the improved toyota part ought to be made affordable, if not for free. Us tsb el004-06 april 28, 2006. Automatic headlight leveling system warning light "on" or flashing. 2004-2005 prius w/hid headlights. Replace rear vehicle height control sensor with improved one.
Both headlights went out during night time driving. I immediately braked because I could not see anything in front of me. It is a very dangerous situation in that my 9year old and 12 year old panicked. When I switched the lights on and off they came back on. The incident re-occurred an additional 3 times on the way home. I contacted the manufacturer as well as the dealer. Both said they could not do anything about this type of failure since it is outside the warranty period. I could understand a lightbulb going out, but both going out at the same time is a horrific dangerous situation. I believe there is an inherent defect from the manufacturer.
Driving on I-405 when the left headlight began acting intermittently. Brought to the attention of the dealer when stopped by to inquire about the problem. Was told that the dealer was unaware what the problem could be and that their only suggestion was to replace the bulb, but that would cost $500 and would not guarantee fixing the problem. Brought car back to dealer several times during 2007 and over the following years to discuss this issue with the headlight... Yielding the same results from the dealer. Many times during night driving the left headlight would go out. Finally, in march, 2013 both headlights went out while on I-405 at night. Happened twice during drive home with 3 small children in the car. Had hid bulbs replaced as considerable expense ($657.88) only to find out toyota is completely aware of this problem from a class action lawsuit. I am shocked they put my family at risk by failing to notify us of this problem, even when proactively contacting the company with the exact same symptoms contained in the lawsuit.
While driving the passenger headlight goes out at unexpected times. Trying to activate the high headlights does not make the light come back on. The only way the light comes back on is by turning them off and on from the switch, and most of the time the light goes out again in a very short time.
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